Walkthrough: Mission 12

In order to activate the alien artifact, Quintaine and Sinclair need a Nomad power cell. Fortunately, sensors have detected such an item within an unexplored alien structure in the Omicron Minor system. Upon acquiring the Nomad power cell, all groups will rendezvous at The Order's base on Planet Toledo. Before launching to space, take the opportunity to restock your ammunition and equipment on the Battleship Osiris. If you can, stock up on everything you can, mines, missiles, torpedoes, the works—you'll need them for the fight to come. You should also consider upgrading your weaponry if the choices exist. Complete any necessary repairs and return to the launch pad. Launch to space and meet Juni and King outside the Osiris.

The alien structure, known as Nomad's Lair, lies within a plasma cloud that prevents deeper scans. It's an enormous disk-like structure with upper and lower entry ports. Although scans report no Nomad vessels in the area, the Osiris' scanners aren't powerful enough to detected cloaked Nomad ships. The biggest problem is the jump hole out of the system—it's destabilizing fast. You only have ten minutes; if at the end of that time you have failed to return through the jump hole with the Nomad power cell, the mission ends in failure.

As you approach Nomad's Lair, Nomad ships uncloak all around your position. The alien structure suddenly comes alive as passive and active defenses activate and your Contact List overflows with hostiles. In clear view, a gigantic shield dome appears over the entrance to the lair. In order to enter the structure and retrieve the power cell, three separate shield generators must be destroyed. Juni and King occupy as many Nomad fighters as they can, but the odds are overwhelming. You must destroy the shield generators. Remember that time is critical; you must complete this task quickly or the jump hole will destabilize and the mission will end in failure. Select the closest shield generator as you approach the structure (or use your Contact List). As soon as the shield generator is within firing range, destroy it. The shield generators are heavily armored. Activate all your weapons and concentrate your fire. If you're close enough, your mines will track to the generator. Be careful, as you will be attacked from all sides by both turrets and fighters.

After destroying the first shield generator, select the next by using your Contact List. Don't waste time activating cruise engines. Maximize your speed and use your afterburner to maneuver around the disk to the next shield generator. Avoid bumping into the side of the structure as this both decreases your speed (making you take longer) and damages your ship's shield or hull. Finish off both remaining shield generators to receive your next mission objective.

A new waypoint appears in your Contact List. It leads directly into the now-exposed port into the alien structure. Still using your afterburner, maneuver to the waypoint and enter the alien structure (there's no need to use the Dock maneuver). Fly down into the core of the alien structure. It's here that you'll find the Nomad power cell. When the Nomad power cell appears on screen, immediately select it so you can quickly use your tractor beam on the object as you pass by. Completing this task is all about speed. There's likely not much time left before the jump hole destabilizes and it's very easy to waste time within the structure. Activate your tractor beam once you've selected the power cell. Don't turn around. Continue flying forward and you'll exit the structure through its second exposed port.

The number of fighters has escalated and larger, deadlier gunboats now accompany them. Time is critical. Ignore these enemies and select the waypoint marked at the Omicron Minor jump hole. Activate cruise engines immediately and proceed at full velocity to the jump hole. Don't worry about King and Juni; they'll catch up. Select the jump hole on your screen and, once you're within range, perform the Dock maneuver to automatically dock with the jump hole upon arrival.

But it's out of the frying pan and into the fire. The Nomads pour into the Omicron Minor system and must be stopped before they reach The Order's base on Planet Toledo. You're ordered to engage the Nomad vessels, which include both interceptors and gunboats.

As you've seen in previous missions, the Nomad fighters are not well armored, but carry powerful, shield-crushing weaponry. It's best to keep your distance from the Nomad fighter groups. Use the asteroids as cover from the onslaught of Nomad fighters and gunboats. Try to stay calm and be conservative with your shield batteries. The Nomads can drop your shields in a heartbeat if you wander into their firing cone. Be very wary of the Nomad gunboats. While the fighters are deadly in groups, each one can be destroyed in a burst from your guns. The gunboats are much more resilient and many times more deadly. Try to destroy them with torpedoes and missiles if you have them left and always stay toward the gunboats' rear to avoid its line of fire.

Planet Toledo is the secret home of The Order, built by Orillion out of nothing in just a few months. After you finish off the Nomads around the jump hole, select the waypoint to Planet Toledo. As you approach, select the Toledo Docking Ring and perform the Dock maneuver to land on the planet and deliver the Nomad power cell to Quintaine and Sinclair.